Seek Joy Y'all Archives < Arwen, Professional Joy Seeker

How Do You Maintain?

Today’s card is not a Tarot card. It’s a reminder via a tangle I did. I’ve been doing this awesome group called “Becoming Safely Embodied” with my therapist and three other amazing women. We just completed the sessions.

Among the things we did was some art therapy. On the last day we were asked to take a large piece of paper to draw or write about our experiences in the group. I grabbed a red pen and tangled.

This is only a portion of that sheet. And, truthfully, I didn’t find JOY in this group. Joy is something I find all the time because I actively look for it.

I think that the best thing was a chance to meet with others who were on a similar path of healing but who were not women I would have normally met. Each was unique in her own life and so incredibly authentic.

I think that is one of the hardest things to maintain. For me at least. No, not the joy seeking. The really hard thing is for me to maintain authenticity as a joy seeker.

There are times when I get so freaking tired of all the negativity. I want to stop leading a joy-seeking life and shriek like a mad woman.

Oh, I’m not perfect. Ask my stepson. He takes the brunt of my non-joyful behaviour (mostly around things I ask to be done that aren’t done–this doesn’t make me joyful.) I don’t pretend to be perfect either. I think that sucks too.

LOL. This post is more about what sucks rather than joy, isn’t it. 😀

So my 180 seconds today will be focusing on why the negativity of others eats at me. Why I feel so compelled to get out of my hula hoop. And how to stay in that self-described hoop.

What will your 180 seconds be devoted to today? Your choice! Just dedicate three minutes to challenging your self on some level.

Seek joy, y’all! Pass it on.

Joy Tangle, Arwen Lynch, feel free to share with copyright attached pretty please.

The Secret To Life Is…

And joy is such an easy thing to find when you realize the secret to the whole thing.

Today’s card is one another of my Zentangles. I’ve done three in a row. I’ll tell you a secret. I’ve been out of town the past two days and had to be at work today at 7am. I’ve been at a family gathering to say good bye to a loved one.

I know yesterday’s post was a bit of a downer. That happens sometimes. So today, I wanted to remind you, my darlings, of why my life is so spectacular even though I’ve just been at a funeral.

It’s because of you. Each of you who read this. Each of you who tell me that something made them think of me saying, “Seek Joy, Y’all.” Each of you are held in my heart like bright, shiny lights.

I seek joy because I must. I seek joy because to seek is a verb that demands action. It demands a partnership. It requires participation.

And joy is such an easy thing to find when you realize the secret to the whole thing.

Pay attention, y’all. I’m fixin’ to tell you the secret to life.

42.

Okay, no, that’s not it. Well it is it, but not this it.

The secret to finding joy is that joy piles up. Little tiny specks of happy roll up into drops of bliss that merge into whole tsunamis of joy. Joy will overwhelm you if you let it.

Stop getting in your own way, my darling dears. Stop refusing to allow joy to pile up. Stop denying those miniscule moments of merriment.

Acknowledge them. Nod your head at them. Wave to them. Write them down.

Seek joy, y’all. And keep on seeking it. Don’t ever stop. This is an avalanche we are creating here.

Zentangle, Arwen Lynch, 2013

Seek Joy, Y’all. Pass it on!

Curious about Zentangles? Learn more at http://www.zentangle.com.

What Will You Do For 180 Seconds?

The sun burned my eyes on my walk back in. I couldn’t see a thing and nearly walked into a neighbor taking his morning stroll.

Today’s card reminds me to soak it up. This orange tabby understands the value of making time to enjoy the day. The bright daisies next to him (did you know 85% of all orange tabby cats are male?) remind him to find beauty everywhere.

The sun is shining on him. See his shadow on the white post? He’s my reminder to seek joy today. To look for small things like daisies. On my morning walk with the dogs today, I was treated to the high pitched chirp of the female cardinal. I saw her in her feathered suit of brown and red then caught the brilliant flash of her mate as he zipped into a tree near her. A blue jay shouted out from somewhere that he was in the market for luuuurve while a mockingbird bachelor took up residence high on a telephone pole.

Did you know that the bachelor mockingbird will sing nearly non-stop while looking for his partner? Also, he flings himself way up into the air to show off his silver and white and black handsome self. Of course, if you’ve ever been the bedroom window the bachelor chooses to sing outside of, then this may not bring you all the joy it could. LOL.

The sun burned my eyes on my walk back in. I couldn’t see a thing and nearly walked into a neighbor taking his morning stroll. He called a good morning to me knowing I couldn’t see due to the sun in my eyes. Just a neighborly thing to do when the sun is at your back.

Spring is coming. It’s still late winter of course but here in Texas that looks very different from my years in Michigan or in Colorado.

What will bring you joy today? What does late winter look like where you are? Rather than rail at the weather that is, find some joy in it. Allow your heart to open up to joy.

Can you commit to three minutes, just 180 seconds, of seeking joy today?

Some of my loved ones are having such hard times right now. Know that I have you in my heart and love you very much.

And that goes for all of you reading this. I love you. It really is that simple for me in this moment.

Sun, Cat’s Eye Tarot, U.S. Games 2011 (used with permission)

Seek joy, y’all! Pass it on.

The Cat’s Eye Tarot is a personal favorite of mine that I use in public readings. I recommend this deck.

Does It Permeate Your Being?

Shiver. I felt that statement down to my bones, y’all. Down to my marrow. It felt like one of those Moments From God (reverberating voice). As if the Universe had pulled me to that picture at that time to experience the word of my Deities.

Today’s card is one of my Zentangles. This is one of my zendalalas (Zentangle in a mandala form). I had so much fun doing this. Now when I come back to it, I love it still.

If this were a Tarot card, it would be the Four of Wands. I see it as a coming together of disparate things creating something of beauty.

Yesterday, Leonie Dawson said this on one of her Instagram photos, “When I really sit with it, I see how my life is an opportunity to experience beautiful places and make art. Beauty is everywhere… We gotta be the sentinels that watch for it, seek it, let it permeate our being.”

This wasn’t a whisper. It was a clarion call to action. I feel that way about joy. We must watch for it, seek it, let it permeate our beings. Yes, Leonie, yes, yes, yes.

So how will you watch for beauty today? How will you seek joy? Will it come on a bright red bird’s wing? The chocolate-coated smile of a child? A wave from a driver you’ve never met telling you to come ahead? A snail leaving a shimmering silvery trail across your sidewalk? A crumpled up newspaper you pick up and throw away so someone else doesn’t have to do it?

What will you do today to make beauty and joy happen in your world even if only for three minutes? 180 seconds of joy. 180 seconds of beauty.

I know we can do this. I know the JoyPatrolAlert members will spread the word. Grab your 180 seconds. Then share the message with one other person. Tell them to seek joy for 180 seconds then pass it on.

The key here? The trick? The Secret?

Joy accumulates. It piles up. Each tiny piece builds until it crowds out negative thought. We are retraining our brains to seek joy instead of dwell on the bad. Because the bad exists. We are just rewiring our hearts to seek joy, y’all.

Are you with me?

Zendala #31, Arwen Lynch, August 2012

Seek joy,y’all. Pass it on.

Fire, Missiles & Seeeekrits

But I let that go as I sat there on the bed. I wanted to be open to the message of the Universe. I laughed out loud when I saw this familiar baby snake staring at me.

Today’s card comes from my work with the . One part is a reading for your year ahead. I’m loathe to look to far into any year (my clients know this since I prefer to do 3 month or 6 month look-aheads to full years).

So I focused on “What is my theme for January? What is the main message?”

Using my beloved Gaian Tarot, I got quiet then pulled. I had to work on steadying my mind since I was, I’ll admit, a bit afraid I’d pull one of the harder cards due to yesterday’s unhappiness. I spent most of the day in a fog. I went to bed early as well and slept for nearly 9.5 hours.

But I let that go as I sat there on the bed. I wanted to be open to the message of the Universe. I laughed out loud when I saw this familiar baby snake staring at me.

Joanna says, “A snake has just broken his way out of an egg and is encountering the world for the first time. Because of his ability to shed his skin and emerge in a new one, Snake has long been a symbol of renewal and transformation. In the background we see sparks shooting from a hidden flame, symbolizing the fires of creativity, sexuality and empowerment.”

I say, “WHOO HOOO! January is going to rock, y’all.”

Because of the work I’m doing with this workbook from , I’ve got some big plans for next year that include a workbook on seeking joy as well as the launch of my nearly-completed Hero’s Journey book. There’s another book as well in the works.

I see January’s Ace of Fire energy as the seed to all of that. I’ll be using that creative fire to launch my joy-missile self into outer space, y’all.

Did you know that one of my is to hear one specific person say, “Seek joy, y’all!” ? Can you guess who it is?

What’s your big theme for January? How are you going to launch your own joy-missile self into the new year? Or whatever you see your missile self as? I’d love to hear about it.

Don’t forget! When you get your, let me know. I’ll get you added to our seeeekrit Facebook group.

Remember this today. I love you.

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on!

Ace of Fire, Gaian Tarot

Mama, Joy & Flowers

Professional joy seekers start their day wondering how they will spot that first bit of joy.

Today’s card is not a card. It’s a reminder that professional joy seekers don’t give up. Professional joy seekers start their day wondering how they will spot that first bit of joy. I am offering this up as encouragement for you to do this today and every day.

This hibiscus was blooming on my porch yesterday morning. I have a large pot where two small hibiscus plants are growing. I’ve had them since last year. One is red and the other was an unknown. I got such joy when I saw the vivid orange the first time.

It’s one of my favorite flowers along with the gladiola. One reason is that my mama loved the hibiscus. I smile when I see them. Because of this flower, I’ve learned that beauty can be fleeting—they fade so fast in the summer heat. This one will have more days due to the fall we are having.

So how will you answer the question “How will you seek joy today?” Feeling lost and alone? You are not. I’ll help you find that joy if you like. Message me to schedule a reading.

Just need a daily reminder? Click on the image to get to a desktop image. Right click and choose “use as background” to make this your desktop wallpaper.

Seek Joy, Y’all. Pass it on!

November 6 Hibiscus, personal photo collection, share as you like but don’t alter the image.

Losing, Loving & Living

Today’s card is not a card but a picture I took. My love and I were walking by the river Sunday morning. we came into a small, secluded area where we saw this. A skirt. A napkin. A cork. A glass.

I can only assume that good times were had by all.

It reminded me to live with abandon. There are situations that call for sex in the midnight grass. There are situations that call for being so enamored of someone that you forget your proprieties…and your skirt. Even a lovely skirt like this one.

In extrapolating this situation, I had to grin thinking of that walk back to the hotel. How did she get back in? How did she manage to not be seen? Did her partner wrap her in a jacket?

Today, do one thing with abandon. Throw caution to the wind. Tell your inner editor to shut the F up. Don’t worry about what others think. Just do something for you and you alone.

Live with abandon. I can see this being a very good thing every now and again. You?

“Losing it in Little Rock”, Picture by Stephanie Arwen Lynch, 2012

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Snowflakes, Smiles & Shopping

Today’s card is another Zentangle piece. It’s my reminder that there are as many ways to find joy as there are types of chocolate. Each of us comes at this from different directions. We each have different things that make us tick.

What makes you happy? What makes you smile? I have a friend who gets a lot of joy from shopping. Shopping for herself. Shopping for a friend. Shopping for an unknown family to donate to. She loves to shop.

I am not a shopper. I can do it every now and again, but all in all? I don’t like it. I’d rather do it online. I like to read. It brings me joy to shut out the whole world while I lose myself in a good story. I know people who would think that was the worst of tortures.

So we are all unique snowflakes. What is your happy? What is your smile about today?

Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Want to find your joy? Book an appointment with me. I’ll help. And don’t forget to grab my free book! Just sign up for the newsletter (over there! In the upper right hand side. 😀 )

Tarotscopes for August 19 – 25, 2012

Here are this week’s Tarotscopes. Thanks so much for sharing them on your walls, in your groups and with your friends. See the bottom for a $10 off special!

AQ 6Air Talk w/ friends. Listen. Move together. Create connection w/ spirit by welcoming each day w/ intention. Make it count.Success
PIC 2Air Shhh. Less talk. More listen. Quiet yr mind. Messages are abundant if U can still that monkey brain. Hard decisions easy.
ARI 9Fire Alignment isn’t just for tires. Take stock of yr energy. Scattered? Small moments of tea & music can bring U peace.
TAU Awakening Check in w/ spiritual self. Transcending imminent. Ready? Open up to next level of YOU. Take ownership to succeed.
GEM Tree Stop. Be still. Address what U must sacrifice for what U want. Meditation/contemplation best. The more silence the better.
CAN 6Wtr Find friends. Reminisce. Some sorrows are helped by remembering the joy instead of the sad.
LEO 5Air Keep an ear out for those who would like to engage U in their high-level competitions. Avoid those who are all roar & no do.
VIR Empress Enjoy the harvest. Realize the abundance is yours because you worked for it. Creativity brings you what you need.
LIB 9Wtr Heart’s desire. What’s that? Have U checked in w/ yrslf lately? Focus on what fills U up. Make that happen more. A lot more.
SCO KngAir Don’t miss the messages because U are talking too much. Pay attention please. This time it’s important. Engage prayers.
SAG KngEarth Don’t start what U won’t (not can’t) finish. Harvest time requires that U work hard. Play time later. Finish things.
CAP PgFire Free yr child self. Explore what sparks U. Investigate passion. What makes U feel alive? loved? Do much more of that.

Show me you w/ yr . Get $10 off a half hour or hour reading when you do.

Sparks, Cogs & Grease

Today’s card reminds me that if I can’t find this one thing in life, nothing really works. It is as if it is the grease in my cogs. No, it’s actually not joy that I’m talking about. It’s passion.

This is the Ace of Bows from the Wildwood Tarot. It is called “the spark of life”. You can have arrows (intentions). You can have a bow (will). If you don’t have the oomph to pull the bow, then nothing happens.

Make something happen. Spark your own interest. If what you are doing now doesn’t grab you by the throat? Do something else.

I know it isn’t that simple. And I’m not talking about walking off your job, away from your life. I’m talking about recommitting to where you are now. Recommit to making it fun for you. Even it it is in small ways.

Remember that joy piles up. It accumulates. It becomes an avalanche that sweeps you up and carries you forward.

But it isn’t “think about joy.” It isn’t “consider joy.” Nope. It’s SEEK JOY. This is an active verb, y’all. It’s about passion. It’s about making it happen for yourself.

So pull that bow, babies. Draw back and let it fly. Seek joy, y’all. Pass it on.

Ace of Bows, WildWood Tarot, 2011